In the 2nd half of 2020, average household electricity prices in the European Union (EU) decreased slightly compared with the 2nd half of 2019 (€21.7 per 100 kWh), standing at €21.3 per 100 kWh. Average gas prices in the EU also decreased slightly standing at €7.0 per 100 kWh in the second half of 2020.
Taxes and levies accounted for 40% of the electricity bills charged to households in the EU in the second half of 2020. For gas bills, the corresponding share was 32%.
This information comes from data on the energy prices in the 2nd half of 2020 published by Eurostat today. The article presents only a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained articles on Electricity price and Natural gas price.
Source datasets: nrg_pc_204 and nrg_pc_202
Largest falls in electricity prices in the Netherlands, Cyprus and Sweden
Household electricity prices fell in 14 EU Member States during the 2nd half of 2020, when compared to the 2nd half of 2019. The largest decreases in household electricity prices (expressed in national currencies), were observed in the Netherlands (-33.8%), followed by Cyprus (-24.1%) and Sweden (-17.2%). In contrast, the largest increase was registered in Luxembourg (+10.3%), ahead of Poland (+9.7%) and Slovakia (+8.8%). Cost of energy was the main driver for these increases.
Expressed in euro, average household electricity prices in the 2nd half of 2020 were lowest in Bulgaria (€9.8 per 100 kWh), Hungary (€10.1) and Estonia (€12.9) and highest in Germany (€30.1), Denmark (€28.2) and Belgium (€27.0).
Source datasets: nrg_pc_204 and nrg_pc_202
Largest fall in gas prices in Lithuania, highest increase in Germany
Gas prices fell in 21 of the 24 EU Member States, which report natural gas prices in the household sector, between the 2nd half of 2019 and the 2nd half of 2020. The largest decreases in household gas prices (expressed in national currencies), were observed in Lithuania (-27.3%) followed by Bulgaria (-21.2%) and Latvia (-20.2%). Tax decreases and cost of energy mainly drove the reduction in Lithuania and Bulgaria. Cost of energy was the main factor in Latvia.
In contrast, the largest increase was registered in Germany (+5.4%) ahead the Netherlands (+4.7%) and Portugal (+0.9%). Tax increases mainly affected the increase in the Netherlands. Cost of energy was the main driver for the increases in Germany. Both components affected the increase in Portugal.
Expressed in euro, average household gas prices in the 2nd half of 2020 were lowest in Latvia (€2.8 per 100 kWh), Lithuania (€3.0) and Hungary (€3.1) and highest in the Netherlands (€10.1), Italy (€9.0) and Spain (€8.9).
For more information:
- Statistics Explained articles on Electricity price and Natural gas price.
- Video - Electricity prices for household consumers in the second half of 2020
- Visualisation tool for Energy Prices
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